Series 800 Automatic

The Series 800 Automatic is Movado's only credible sport automatic: a 42mm PVD steel case, Sellita SW200, 200m water resistance, and a unidirectional bezel that puts this watch in actual dive-watch territory rather than dress-sport territory. It is not a collector's reference, but it is a capable automatic sport watch at a price where the competition is mostly quartz. For Movado buyers who want function over fashion, this is the right call.

What it is

Movado introduced the Series 800 as the performance line in their catalog, designed to separate the brand's sport credentials from the Museum-dial fashion identity. The 800 designation references water resistance in feet, a common labeling convention in American sport watches. The PVD-treated steel case resists corrosion and scratch better than bare steel in salt and chlorine environments.

The Sellita SW200 is a 21-jewel automatic with a 38-hour power reserve: a workhorse movement appropriate for a tool watch that will actually be used.

Buying notes

Movado's brand recognition among dedicated watch collectors is limited relative to the price: at $600 to $900 for a new Series 800, you are in direct competition with Seiko Prospex, Orient, and mid-tier Hamilton references that have deeper collector communities and stronger secondary-market liquidity. PVD coatings can wear through at high-contact points (case back, bracelet links) with heavy use; inspect any used example carefully at those surfaces. The Sellita SW200 has a 38-hour reserve, shorter than the SW300: plan for reset if you alternate watches.

Market read

New Series 800 references retail at $600 to $950. Secondary-market demand is limited: Movado does not have the collector following to sustain strong resale values in the sport category. Used examples often trade at significant discounts to retail, which can make buying used sensible if condition is good.

The PVD finish condition is the primary value driver on used examples.

Service expectations

The Sellita SW200 is a standard modern Swiss automatic serviced globally without difficulty. Service interval is five to seven years; parts availability is excellent. For a watch used actively in saltwater, annual rinsing and periodic gasket inspection are recommended at shorter intervals than the full mechanical service cycle.